Japan seeks role in French-German marine surveillance plane project - sources

FILE PHOTO: A Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft is seen parked during the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford, Britain July 17, 2015. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls/File Photo

TOKYO/BERLIN (Reuters) - In a fresh bid to win its first major foreign arms deal since World War Two, Japan is proposing its P-1 submarine hunter for a French-German project to develop a marine surveillance aircraft, two Japanese government sources said.

Discussion between the three governments began last year. Japanese officials also asked Kawasaki Heavy Industries <7012.T>, which makes the P-1, to discuss possible partnerships with France's Dassault Aviation and Thales SA , said the sources, who have direct knowledge of the proposal but are not authorised to speak to the media.